Automatic lighting and extinguishing device.



-A.J.BBIDFORD.

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING AND BXTINGUISHING DEVICE. APPLIGATIOE FILED FEB. 19, 1909.

munzw. B. GRAHAM co, womumoammins WASHINGTON, u. c.

ARTHUR JOHN BEDFORD, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

Application filed. February 19, 1909. Serial No. 478,944.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J one Buo- FORD, of 33 WVilliam street, Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Lighting and Extinguishing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to the class of lighting and extinguishing devices in which diflerent gas pressures, regulated by means of governors ata central station or gas works, operate upon a flexible diaphragm inclosed within a cylindrical metal casing attached to, and between the burner and the gas supply pipe of street gas lamps.

My object is to improve the construction and operation; and my invention consists generally of an automatic street lamp lighting and extinguishing device provided with a flexible weighted diaphragm to cooperate with, or act independently of adjustable loading weights, and automatically operate valve mechanism to occupy predetermined positions for admitting gas by predetermined variations of pressure through valved ports and passages to the street lamp burner for the lighting thereof; and for the simultaneous extinguishing of the pilot light. The same means also provide for automatically extinguishing the burner light, cutting off the gas supply to the street lamp burner, and simultaneously lighting the pilot light.

The invention further consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as will be set forth in the accompanying specification and articularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1, is a diagrammatic view of the valve operating mechanism, showing the position to which the flexible weighted diaphragm and the adjustable loading weights of my device are uplifted by the maximum gas pressure for lighting purposes, between sunset and midnight. Fig. 2, is a central sectional elevation of my invention, showing the valve operating mechanism suspended in a position to admit the gas at a minimum pressure to the burner, for lighting purposes, between midnight and daylight. Fig. 8, is a part sectional and external elevation of Fig. 2, drawn at right angles thereto. In

Fig. 2 the device is shown connected with the gas supply pipe of a street lamp and the Bunsen bell of an incandescent gas mantle burner, which may be of any well known type. Fig. 4: is another diagrammatic view illustrative of the position of the flexible weighted diaphragm, and the released position of the valve operating mechanism during daytime, after the shutting off of gas to the burner and the simultaneous lighting of the pilot light have been effected.

Referring to the drawings, I construct a cylindrical casing comprised of two separable sections (1) and (2) provided with the flanges (3) and (4), between which is inserted the flexible weighted diaphragm This diaphragm is seamless, and consists of a leather disk rendered pliable before use by saturating it with a suitable vegetable oil, preferably oil of almonds. A circular bottom cover (6) forms the base of the cylindrical casing, and the separable parts are secured together by screws and nuts to form two compartments, one above the other, as shown at Figs. 2 and 3. Upon the upper section (1) is loosely fitted the cover (7) to permit of easy access to the adjustable loading weights (8) and (9) contained in the upper compartment. The lower section (2) is flanged and suitably secured to the circular bottom end cover (6). A leather gasket ring (10) is inserted between the flange (11) and said cover (6) to provide a gas tight joint. Thus the compartment located below the flexible weighted diaphragm (5) is employed as a gas cylinder, in which are contained the various parts of my valve operating mechanism, which is operated to either admit or shutoff the gas supply to the street lamp burner, or pilot light. In two radially ribbed portions formed on the underside of this bottom end cover (6) I drill the gas outlet passages (12) and (13), the outer ends of which are threaded internally and closed up with the two milled headed screw plugs (14). By unscrewing these plugs from the gas pas sages any naphthalene or foreign matter deposited therein may be brushed out. I also drill in said cover (6) the inner lateral gas outlet ports (15) and (16) in opposite diametral. positions, to communicate with the said gas outlet passages (12) and (13) respectively. In the extended ends of these gas outlet passages I drill outer lateral gas top side of the diaphragm.

outlets which are screw-threaded internally to receive the threaded lower ends of the burner feed pipe (17), and the pilot light tube (18). This feed pipe is the only means for conveying gas to the Bunsen bell (19) of an incandescent gas mantle burner from the gas outlet passage (12), while the pilot light tube (18) connected with the other passage serves to convey gas to the ignition point of the burner. Into a threaded hole provided in the bottom end cover (6) of the cylindrical easing, I insert the screw threaded end of the gas supply pipe (20) from which gas passes to the inlet holes (21) of the central guide projector (22) and thence to the gas cylinder. (23) is a fiat faced loading weight secured to the under face of the diaphragm (5) by the top ring (21) which is provided with drilled holes and countersunk set screws to fit into screw threaded holes formed in said weight (23). This weight (23) is constructed with an integral depending sleeve (25) which is slidably socketed upon said central guide projector (22), so as to guide upwardly and downwardly the flexible weighted diaphragm (5). Two vent holes (26) made in said sleeve prevent the formation of any cushion of the gas that may enter within the inner space of the sleeve (25) as it slides downwardly upon the projector (22).

Where it is required that a certain number of street lamps should remain lighted after other lamps have been extinguished, I adjust upwardly the suspended loading weights (8) and (9) to occupy a higher position in the upper compartment, and I then add extra loading weights upon the Additional loading weights may be used on the slidable spindle (27) for further resisting the upward movement of the flexible weighted diaphragm (5), according to the gas pressure conditions under which the street lamp is to be lighted and extinguished. This spindle (27) is fitted to slide freely through an inverted cone shaped hole provided in the transverse supporting bar (28). Its upper end is partly screw threaded and provided with the adjustable milled nut (29) cone seated in said hole. The ends of the transverse bar (28) are turned down and suitably secured to the inner walls of the upper compartment of said cylindrical casing. (30) is a vertical plate provided with a bottom flange suitably secured to the bottom end cover of said casing. 011 this plate is pivotally mounted, on a projected stud (31), a bell crank lever (32), the arms of which I construct of two different lengths. These arms are proportioned in weight in order that the long arm will be heavier than the short arm, so that the bell crank lever (32) will assume the position shown in Fig. 41, after the valve operating mechanism has shut off the gas supply to the burner, and opened the supply of gas to the pilot light. This pivoted bell crank lever is intermediately situated between the trip pawl (33) and a pivoted rocking lever hereinafter described. From the vertical plate (30) is projected a transverse lug through which is drilled a hole to receive the slidable rod (3 1) depending from the underside of the flexible weighted diaphragm (5), to prevent the latter from swerving. On the vertically depending arm of said bell crank lever (32) is a projecting lift catch (35), which engages a catch (36) extended upwardly from one end of the pivoted rocking lever (37) before mentioned. From one side of this lever (37) I project two lugs (38) and (39), in eachof which an elongated hole is formed. In the hole of the lug (38) is pivotally mounted the upper end of the valve stem (40) to the bottom end of which is attached the burner gas outlet valve (41) to engage the seat (e2) of the lateral gas port (15) leading to the gas outlet passage (12).

The stem (43) of the pilot light valve (45) is fitted to move freely in the elongated hole of the lug (39), and is provided at its top end with the adjustable conically shaped milled nut 1 1), and at its bottom end with the pilot light valve (as) which engages the seat 16) of the lateral gas port (16) leading to the gas outlet passage (13) provided in the bottom cover for the pilot light. The valve (41) is of greater weight than the pilot light valve (45), so that when the diaphragm is uplifted, and the valve operating mechanism is released to occupy the position shown at Fig. 1, the gas outlet valve (a l) will close down by gravity upon the gas port (15), and seat 12), and simultaneously oscillate the rocking lever (37) to open the pilot light valve 15).

(417) represents a slotted lifting link which is pivotally connected at its top end to a depending lug of the flat faced loading weight (23), while the lower end engages the pin (48) projected from one side of the rocking lever (37) as the diaphragm is uplifted, but is freed from the pin (48) as said diaphragm is collapsed.

For either suspending or releasing the valve operating mechanism, I pivotally suspend the trip pawl (33) from a depending lug of the diaphragm weight This pawl has a slight inward incline, and is formed with a tapered side edge which hugs the fixed guide pin (49). The upward movement of the flexible weighted diaphragm disengages the notch (50) of the pawl from the free end of the bell crank lever (32), while the downward movement permits of its engagement therewith.

In using my device for street lighting purposes, I introduce to the gas cylinder a maximum gas pressure of say forty-five tenths of an inch to operate the parts of the valve mechanism to the first position shown at F ig. 1, for lighting the burner and extinguishing the pilot light. As the gas is admitted from the gas supply pipe (20) of the street lamp, it passes through the inlet holes (21) into the gas cylinder and uplifts the flexible weighted diaphragm (5) which cooperates with the suspended loading Weights (8) and (9) and the slidable spindle, as shown at Fig. 1. The upward movement of the diaphragm (5) brings the lower end of the slotted link (47) into lifting engagement with the pin (48), thereby actuating the pivoted rocking lever (37), and simultaneously raising the burner gas outlet valve (41), to allow the gas to pass through the port (15) into the gas outlet passage (12), thence through the feed pipe (17) to the Bunsen bell (19) and the incandescent gas mantle burner. The same upward movement of the diaphragm places the valve operating mechanism in the first position, previously referred to, while the rock movement imparted to the pivoted rocking lever (37) shuts down the pilot light valve upon its seat, to prevent exit of gas to the pilot light tube (18). The suspended trip pawl (33) as it moves upwardly with its tapered side edge bearin against the pin (49) is also diverted outwardly, to occupy a disengaged position, while the catches (35) and (36) of the bell crank lever and the rocking lever engage with each other. The maximum gas pressure retains uplifted the diaphragm and valve operating mechanism in the position shown at Fig. 1 for lighting purposes from sunset to midnight or thereabout, when the maximum gas pressure is reduced to a minimum pressure of say eighteen tenths. In this case, the lower end of the slotted link (47) slides inoperatively past the pin (48) of the rockin lever (37), while the trip pawl (33) slides downwardlv against the fixed guide pin (49), until the notch (50) engages with the free end of said bell crank lever (32), for suspending the valve operating mechanism in the second position, as shown at Fig. 2. The gas is maintained at the pressure of say eighteen tenths until daylight, when it is increased to say twenty-five tenths of an inch, to partially uplift the diaphragm (5), so that the valve operating mechanism will be released to occupy the third position as shown at Fig. 4. In this case, the catches (35) and (36) are freed from each other and the trip pawl is disengaged from the bell crank lever (32), to permit of the burner gas outlet valve (41) closing the port (15) for extinguishing the burner light, and allowing of the raising of the pilot light valve (45) and the opening of the gas port (16) for the supply of gas to the pilot light for simultaneously lighting same.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for automatically lighting and extinguishing street gas lamps and pilot light therewith, the combination with a gas cylinder, valve mechanism therein a flexible weighted diaphragm adapted to cooperate with suspended loading weights or act independently thereof and automatically operate the valve mechanism contained within the gas cylinder by variations of gas pressure, of a slotted lifting link, a pivoted rocking lever actuated by said link for opening a burner gas outlet valve and closing a pilot light valve simultaneously; and a slidable rod guided by a hole in a transverse lug of a vertical plate to prevent the flexible weighted diaphragm from swerving as it rises or falls by the various gradations of gas pressure within the gas cylinder, as described and as shown.

2. In a device for automatically lighting and extinguishing street gas lamps and pilot light therewith provided with a gas cylinder, valve mechanism therein a flexible weighted diaphragm adapted to cooperate with suspended loading weights or act independently thereof and automatically operate the valve mechanism contained within the gas cylinder by variations of gas pressure, a slotted lifting link, a rocking lever actuated by said link a burner gas outlet valve at one end of the lever for admitting or shutting oif gas to the burner, and a pilot light valve at the other end of the lever for the supply or cut off of gas to the pilot light, a bell crank lever provided with a lift catch engaging the catch of the pivoted rocking lever, a trip pawl pivotally suspended from said diaphragm to engage a fixed guide pin and the free end of the bell crank lever by a subsequent decrease of gas pressure, as described and as shown.

3. In a device for automatically lighting and extinguishing street gas lamps and pilot light therewith provided with a gas cylinder, valve mechanism therein aflexible weighted diaphragm adapted to cotiperate with suspended loading weights or act independently thereof and automatically operate the valve mechanism contained within the gas cylinder by variations of gas pressure, a rocking lever within the cylinder, a trip pawl carried by the diaphragm, a vertical plate within the cylinder, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the vertical plate and intermediately disposed between the trip pawl and the rocking lever, and provided with a lift catch on its depending arm to engage with or disengage from a catch of said pivoted rocking lever, a burner gas outlet valve at one end of the rocking lever and a pilot light valve at its other end to open or close gas ports communicating with gas outlet passages in the bottom end cover of the gas cylinder, burner feed pipe and pilot light tube, as described and as shown.

4:. In a device of the class described, the combination with a cylinder, a diaphragm therein, means for supplying gas to said cylinder below the diaphragm, a main burner and pilot light burner connected with said cylinder, a rocking lever within the cylinder, valves mounted thereon for controlling the supply of gas to said burners, a link connected to the diaphragm and having a slot therein, a pin on one end of the rocking lever engaging with said slot, a catch on said rocking lever, a bell crank lever 15 having a catch thereon adapted to engage with the catch on the rocking lever, and a trip pawl carried by the diaphragm and adapted to engage with the bell crank lever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 20 my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR JOHN BEDFORD. Witnesses ALBERT E. B. SwANsoN, CHARLES HARTLETT. 

